Extrusion press



March 16, 1954 H. LORANT 'EXTRUSION PRESS Filed April 24, 1948 7Sheets-Sheet l mo M H. v Q B N? g mm N mm mm 2 5 T H g NUMH Q 7 R m E 50m @m y d g T M ii v a w I H 5 8 W I M om NH l]! A m w u Q q #1 w. U oiWm mv 0a m @fi 5\ 2 2 H mm 8 3 Q Tm Q T2 9 N16 wi g Q 8 T @m 2 8 W 2 a HN, Q 3 5 3 mv l Z pm March 16, 1954 H. LORANT 2,672,234

EXTRUSION PRESS Filed April 24, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 16, 1954 H.LORANT EXTRUSION' PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 24, 1948 W m7. N 1m. a H mm 0 mm 2. Q N o 2. am i o o ,8 nn 0 Oh OF AN V. T!!! m -ll$ L llI ll 1 v mi mw wi mm 0% Q mm Q QN h w ,4 TTOENEYS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledApril 24, 1948 IN V EN TOR. /uao Lam/v7 ATTOIQA/EYS March 16, 1954 H.LORANT EXTRUSION' PRESS Filed April 24, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.H060 Zwm/vr My MW 4 TTOIQNE XS March 16, 1954 LORANT 2,672,234

EXTRUSION PRESS Filed April 24, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN ENTOR. I ##60aim r A TTOQNEYS Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEEXTRUSION PRESS Hugo Lorant, New York, N. Y.

Application April 24, 1948, Serial No. 23,124

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an extrusion press or the like used in theextrusion of tubes and the forming of hollow shapes, said press having amandrel, and particularly to an arrangement whereby said mandrel may beeasily changed and cooled so that the press can achieve increasedproduction when extruding metal tubes at relatively high temperatures.

In the conventional extrusion press, a billet is placed into a billetcontainer or bore by an extrusion stem. A mandrel is located within theextrusion stem, said mandrel being employed to pierce the billet andalso being used in conjunction with the extrusion operation, the mandreland extrusion stem being appropriately operated by hydraulic cylinders.In the operation of such a press when extruding materials such as steel,the mandrel becomes very hot and must be cooled because otherwise thelife of the mandrel will be extremely short and the operation of thepress uneconomical. One of the difliculties involved is that the timerequired to cool the mandrel considerably reduces the output of thepress if a single mandrel is used for consecutive operations. In priorpractice, the cooling time frequently is much longer than the actualoperation time of the extrusion press.

Various means can be used to cool mandrels such as air, oil, water, etc.Air cooling has advantages, particularly in its simplicity, but requiresa longer time than the other cooling methods. Oil has certain handlingdifficulties and the time required for cooling is still relatively long.It is not possible to use water on high heat resisting steel mandrelsbecause the mandrel would crack due to the sudden temperature changewhen water impinges thereon.

Various attempts have been made to overcome the above difficulties but asatisfactory solution has not been found. It has been proposed to removethe mandrel from the extrusion press and insert a new one in theextrusion stem but usually the mandrel is screwed into the mandrelholder so that the exchange of the mandrel by disengaging it from itsholder is impracticable. This is because the threaded connection isdiflicult to disengage because of the high temperatures and pressure towhich it was subjected during extrusion. Other types of joints allowingeasy disengagement are not satisfactory because the space within thebore of the extrusion stem is limited and a joint of sufficient strengthcould not be provided.

Mandrels attached to a solid stem have been "used for the extrusion oflight metal from a 2 billet, wherein a bayonet joint is provided formanual exchange of the mandrel. Such a removal, however, requiresconsiderable time and the mandrel is not movable relative to theextrusion stem itself and thus cannot be retracted rapidly followingextrusion. In such a case, the metal being extruded or shaped may shrinkupon the mandrel and thus make it difficult to remove the mandreltherefrom. It is thus apparent that in high temperature extrusion,particularly of steel, it is of extreme importance to solve the problemof cooling the mandrel with the smallest possible loss in machineoperating time.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereinthe mandrels may be changed and cooled without unduly losing operatingtime of the press.

Another of the objects of the invention is to provide an improvedmandrel holding and operating arrangement.

One of the features of the invention is to provide an arrangementwhereby a mandrel means, including a mandrel and a mandrel holder, canbe easily removed from the extrusion stem to a zone outside of theactual operating zone' of the press where the mandrel can be cooled orchanged. A plurality of mandrels can be carried in a cooling support sothat there will always be available a cooled mandrel to replace thepreviously used hot mandrel, said cooling support being adapted toreceive the hot mandrel and carry the same to a cooling zone. Theconnection between the mandrel holding means and mandrel is constructedso as to be quickly and automatically disconnectable from the otheroperating parts of the press. The disengageable connection is locatedtoward the rear of the extrusion stem, or remote from the operating zoneof the press, so that it will not enter therein and thus will not besubjected to the high temperatures adjacent the extrusion stem. Asmentioned previously, according to this invention, the mandrel meanscomprises a mandrel and mandrel holder which can be changed as a unit.

In one aspect of the invention, a mechanical means can be provided forreceiving, transferring, and moving the mandrels to and from theextrusion stem, the mandrel being conveyed to a cooling zone outside ofthe press operating zone. It is of course apparent that the quicklydetachable mandrel means arrangement can be employed in a press whereinthe mandrel and mandrel holder are removed manually fromthe operatingzone.

The main operating cylinders for operating the movable cross headcarrying and forcing the extrusion stem into the billet container cantake the form of a pair of main hydraulic cylinders spaced on eitherside of the center of the press so that the mandrel means isreciprocable therebetween.

In an alternate arrangement of the movable cross head and extrusion stemoperating means, a single main operating cylinder is located on thecenter line of the press, with a bore therethrough for the passage ofthe operating parts. lhe single cylinder is longitudinally spaced fromthe movable cross head so as to allow the mandrel holder and mandrel tobe removed laterally be tween the cross head and cylinder. The mandrelmeans is reciprocable within a bore in the extrusion stem by a piercerstem assembly, the mandrel means being disengageably connectable withthe piercer stem. A plurality of piercer cylinders located on eitherside of the press axis or a single piercer cylinder can be used for thepurpose of reciprocating the piercer stem.

In one aspect of the invention, a shifting cylinder arrangement is usedin conjunction with the piercer cylinder for controlling movement of thepiercer stem, the piercer cross head to which the piercer cylinder meansis connected being connectable to the piercer stem by means of a clutch.The piercer cylinders are relatively large as compared to the shiftingcylinders so as to provide the desired power for performing the piercingoperation, it not being necessary that the hydraulic cylinders usedmerely for shiting the mandrel means toward and away from the operatingzone be the same size as the piercer cylinders. Upon completion of therelatively short piercing stroke by the piercer cylinders,

, the piercer stem can be disconnected from the movable piercer crosshead and piercer cylinders and the shifting cylinder means used towithdraw the piercer stem independently of the piercer cylinders to aposition where the mandrel holding means conveniently can be removedfrom the piercer stem.

In the automatic removal of the mandrel holder and mandrel, means can beprovided to automatically support the mandrel holder as it is ejected ordisconnected from the piercer stem.

7 A transfer mechanism then can be operated to Dick up the mandrel meansand move the same to a cooling location. The same mandrel transfermechanism can pick up a cooled mandrel means and return the same forconnection with the piercer stem. During the time employed for changingmandrels, the extruded tube can be cut off and the die in the containercan be prepared for the next cycle. It thus becomes apparent that thechanging of mandrels can be done automatically and without difiiculty inthe present invention so that little time will be lost in the operationof the machine.

In one form of the invention, an arrangement can be provided forautomatically moving the 4 mandrel rearwardly relative to the billet assoon as the pressure on the piercer cylinder is released, thuspreventing shrinking of the billet on the mandrel. The arrangement forautomatically removing the mandrel means also can serve to insure thatthe mandrelholder is firmly held As the piercer stem with the mandrelmeans is moved toward the extrusion stem, the slidable member will becontacted and moved therewith against said yieldable means as themandrel is carried into the extrusion stem bore. The hydraulic meansrestraining movement of the slidable member can be replaced by a springmeans. Upon release of pressure on the piercer cylinder, the yieldablemeans willwithdraw the mandrel into the extrusion stem and thus retractthe mandrel out of the billet or material upon which an extrusion orpressing operation has been performed.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description and drawings, which aremerely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section with the mandrel locatedin the extrusion stem before the stem has been advanced toward thebillet container. I

Figure 2 is an elevation generally similar t Figure l but with themandrel retracted from the extrusion stem and in position for removal.

Figure 3 is an enlarged View of the mandrel means including the mandreland a portion of the mandrel holder.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view par tially taken along the line4- of Figure 2 showing the slid ng member and its retracting means.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2showing details of the piercer stem clutch.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 66 ofFigure 1 showing one form of mandrel removing apparatus for removing amandrel from the press.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken approximately along theline 1-4 of Figure 6 showing one form of mandrel removing support means.

Figure 8 is a generally similar to Figure 6 with the piercer stem andmandrel means withdrawn and the latter in readiness to be transferred tothe cooling apparatus.

Figure 9 is a view of one form of rotatable member on which the mandrelmeans can be cooled, said view being taken approximately along the line9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken approximately along theline I-l0 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is an end view of a modified form of a rotatable means forsupporting the mandrels during the cooling thereof.

Figure 12 is a side elevation looking toward the right in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevation partially in sectionof an extrusion press having a single main cylinder instead of the twomain cylinders of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line M-M of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevation, partially in section,of another modification of the main cylinder arrangement.

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken approximately'al'ong the line [5-46of Figure 15.

The invention first will be described in conjunction with an extrusionpress having a pair of main extrusion stem operating cylinders, locatedon either side of thecenter line of the press. The upper main cylinder20 and lower of the center line of the machine.

main cylinder 2| can be mounted on a pair 01' uprights 22 and 23, saiduprights being supported at 24 and 25 on the main bed 26 of the press.Each of the cylinders can have laterally extending lugs (not shown) forcarrying the main tie rods 21, said tie rods passing through laterallugs of upright supports 22 and 23. The tie rods can have nuts 28 and 29(Figure 2) at either end between the uprights so as to connect thelatter with the main cylinders to a conventional platen 30 carrying anextrusion die arrangement shown generally at 3 l.

The main cylinders have rams 32 connected to the movable main cross head33, the movable cross head 33 carrying a tool holder 34 and extrusionstem 35. The extrusion stem 35 cooperates with the billet container bore36 in a conventional manner.

A pair of pull back rods 31 are connectedto the movable main cross head33 for the purpose of retracting said movable cross head, said pull backrods 37 being operable by the pull back cylinder assembly 38 arranged inthe stationary cylinder cross head 39. There preferably are two pullback rods, one being located on either side Extensions 40 of the maintie rods 2'! connect stationary cylinder cross head 39 to the main partsof the press. Pull back rods 31 are provided with adjustable nuts 4|which cooperate with the movable piercer cylinder cross head 42 for thepurpose of moving the piercing apparatus during certain movements ofother parts of the press as will be described hereafter.

In conventional extrusion presses, the piercing apparatus includes amandrel which can be forced into a billet located in the billetcontainer 36. The mandrel means of the present invention includesmandrel 43 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and mandrel holder 44. The mandrel andholder are adapted to be reciprocated in a bore in extrusion stem 35.The mandrel may, for example, be screw-threadedly engaged in mandrelholder 44 (Fig. 3). Mandrel holder 44 has an enlarged end 45 which fitssnugly into a cooperating bore 4'! (Fig. 2) of the piercer stem 48 sothat the rear face of the mandrel holder is engaged by shoulder 49 ofpiercer stem 48.

The piercer stem is arranged to be moved in the piercing operation by apair of piercer cylinders 49A carried by the stationary cylinder crosshead 39. The piercer cylinder rams 513 are connected to the movablepiercer cross head 42, which in turn is connected to piercer stem 48through a clutch 5!. One piercer cylinder and one ram are visible inFigure 1, the other cylinder and ram being visible in Figure 2.

Clutch 5| can have two small cylinders 52, 52 (Fig. 5) for the purposeof engaging and disengaging clutch elements 53 with respect to piercerstem 48. When the clutch 5! is engaged and the piercer cylinders 49Aenergized, the mandrel will be forcibly moved forward because the actionof the piercer cylinders 49A will be transmitted to the mandrel meansthrough rams 5B, movable piercer cross head 42, clutch 5! and theenlarged head 45 of mandrel holder 44.

Piercer stem 48 can be provided, if desired, with a shoulder 54 engaginga disc 55 which can be used to apply the force of the piercer cylindersto the extrusion stem through the movable cross head 33. The disc 55 mayhave a flat lower surface 5% (Fig. 2) which is slidable upon thehorizontal guide bracket 51 serving to support the piercer stem 48 whenthe forward end thereof is not supported in elements carried by themovable cross head 33.

When the mandrel has to be withdrawn immediately after extrusion andupon release of pressure in the piercer cylinders, a retracting devicemay be provided for moving the mandrel from an extended positionrelative to the extrusion stem to the position shown in Figure 1. Such aretracting device may comprise a pair of hydraulic cylinders 59 (Fig. 4)actuating a sliding member 50 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4), said sliding member 60being guided in the movable cross head 33 and being suitably suppliedwith fluid so as to urge the slidable member 60 rearwardly or to theright (Fig. 4). It is evident, of course, that springs or other meansmay be used instead of the hydraulic arrangement seen in Figure 4. Theforce exerted by retracting cylinders 59 is transmitted to the mandrelholder 44 through sliding member 69 and shoulder SI of the enlargedportion 45 of the mandrel holder (Fig. 2). It thus is apparent thatfollowing the piercing operation and release of pressure in the piercingcylinders 49A, the mandrel 43 will be withdrawn into the position shownin Figure 1 relative to the extrusion stem 35. Thus the difiicultiesinvolved in having the metal being extruded shrunk onto the mandrel canbe avoided.

Pull back cylinder assemblies 53 may be provided, said assemblies beingconnected to the movable piercer cross head 42 for the purpose ofwithdrawing the movable piercer cross head.

In order to complete withdrawal of the mandrel means, the piercer stem43 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2 by means of the doubleacting shifting cylinders 62 which are rigid- 1y mounted in the movablepiercer cross head 42. Shifting cylinder rams 63 are connected toshifting cylinder cross head 64, said cross head being attached to anextension 65 of the piercer stem 43. Upon disengagement of the clutch5!, it can be seen that the piercer stem 48 may be moved rearwardlyrelative to the movable piercer cross head. 42. Upon release of theclutch 5!, actuation of the shifting cylinders 62 will move the piercerstem, mandrel holder and mandrel to the position shown in Figure 2. Itis thus possible to carry out the relatively long shifting movement ofthe piercer stem independently of the piercer cylinders 49A to a pointwhere the mandrel means can be exchanged. In this manner, the stroke ofthe piercer cylinder rams can be made short as in a conventional tubepress. The shifting cylinders 62 obviously do not have to be as large asthe piercer cylinders 49A since they serve only for moving piercer stem48.

As the piercer stem 48 is moved rearwardly to the position shown inFigure the mandrel means will be carried along therewith because theenlarged portion 43 has been pushed into tight engagement with thepiercer stem, both due to the engagement between shoulder BI and slidingmember El), and the forces created during the piercing operation.

A stripper 86 connected to a stop 61 maybe provided for the purpose ofstripping or removing the mandrel holder 44 from the piercing stem at anappropriate time and thereby ejecting the mandrel means from the piercerstem. Various means o her than the stripper illus trated can be used forremoving the mandrel holder from the piercer stem.

When the piercer stem (is is moved rearwardly, a mandrel support $8(Figs. 6, 7) is positioned to receive and support the mandrel holder asit is ejected from the piercer stem. In one form of the invention, themandrel support 68 may comprise a pair of pivoted arms 69 having saddlesT at their outer ends adapted to engage the mandrel holder. The mandrelsupport is shown in its inoperative position in Figures 6 and 7, therebeing a connecting rod H having a roller 12 engageable by mandrelsupport operating member 13. Roller 74 may be carried by disc 55 (Fig.7) for the purpose of engaging the surface of the operating member '53.

Upon rearward movement of piercer stem 58 from the position shown inFigure '7 to that shown in Figure 10, the roller '14 will engage surfaceis and rotate the operating member '33 so as to draw the connecting rodH to the right at the correct time, thus moving the mandrel support arms69 to the position shown in Figures 8 and 10 to receive the mandrelholder cylinder 18, the tray member 19 will be advanced from theposition shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 8 engaging themandrel means.

The transfer or conveyor apparatus is then ready for operation of thedouble acting cylinl der 80. Operation of cylinder to for the purpose ofpivoting the transfer arm '36 around H from the full lines shown inFigure 8 to the dashed line position 8|, will thereby carry the mandrelholder to a point where it can be released into one of the sets of slotsor recesses 82 of the rotatable discs 83 (Figs. 8 and 9). The discs 83may be supported on a shaft {'14 which can be intermittently rotated orindexed in any conventional manner. Guide plates serve to keep themandrel holders 4% in the recesses 32 as the discs 83 rotate. After themandrel has been transferred to a position where it is ready to beengaged in the slots of the discs 83, bydraulic cylinder is may beoperated so that tray 19 will move downwardly and will deposit themandrel holder in a set of empty slots. The discs 83 then are indexed tobring a cool mandrel means into position to be engaged by tray E9 uponoperation of the hydraulic cylinder 18.

After engagement of the mandrel means thereby, actuation of cylinder 39will cause the mandrel means to be carried into the position shown infull lines in Figure 8 where it is engaged by the tray 19 and supportingsaddles it in front of the path of the piercer stem 48.

Upon forward movement of the piercer stein thereafter, the mandrelholder will be engaged by the piercer stem and carried forward, the enlarged end if: of the holder entering the bore M in the piercer stem.The tray '59 will be retracted at an appropriate time so as not tointerfere with the movement of the piercer stem. Retraction of themandrel supports can be accomplished by roller 14 engaging the operatingmember 13 and moving mandrel supports 69 out of the way of the piercerstem and related apparatus. Movement of the mandrel supports out of thepath of the piercer stem 48 is delayed until after enlarged portion ofthe mandrel holder has been engaged in the bore of the piercing stem,the relationship of roller 14 and. operating member 13 being such as topositively hold the mandrel holder until said engagement takes place.

In the cooling apparatus for the mandrels, there may be any number ofstations provided, six being illustrated by way of example. A suitablecooling means at 8 6 (Fig. 9) for spraying oil or other cooling mediumupon the mandrels 43 can be used. Container 81 and spray shields 88 and89 of any suitable variety can be used for the purpose of collecting thecooling oil or medium.

Describing the operation of the transfer mechanism thus far, when themandrel and mandrel holder are in a position shown in Figure 2 supportedon the mandrel supports 69 (Fig. 8) following a retraction of thepiercer stem 48, the hydraulic cylinder arrangement 18 (Figs. 6 and 8)is operated so as to engage the mandrel and transfer a hot mandrel tothe mandrel cooling arrangement at the right of Figure 8.

A cool mandrel and mandrel holder is transferred from the mandrelcooling apparatus to a position in front of the piercer stem. Thepiercer stem then is advanced by means of the shifting cylinders 62(Fig. l) the mandrel holder becoming engaged by the piercer stem as thestem moves forward. As the forward movement of the piercer stem iscontinued, the mandrel supporting apparatus (it will be withdrawn to theposition shown in Figure 7. The piercer stem continues moving forwardlyuntil it reaches the position shown in Figure l, at which time shoulder6| of the mandrel holder comes into contact with the forward end of thesliding member 8!]. Clutch 5| then is engaged so as to connect themovable piercer cross head 42 and piercer cylinders 49A with the piercerstem 58. The movable cross head 33 with the extrusion stem 35 is thenenergized so as to move the parts toward operative position (Fig. l) allmovable piercing parts, including the movable piercing cross head 42,being carried along through the pull back rods 31 and nuts 4!. Thebillet 90 (indicated by dashed lines, Figure 1) is pushed into thebillet container bore 36.

The mandrel 33 then can be advanced by means of the piercer cylinders49A exerting force through clutch 51 and piercer stem 48. The forwardmovement of the mandrel means will be carried out against the resistanceof cylinders 59 of Figure 4 which are under pressure and will cause themandrel holder to be tightly pushed into the piercer stem at this pointof the operation. It is thus evident that the connection between themandrel holder and the piercing stem is merely under pressure in bothdirections so that the mandrel means can be easily engaged anddisengaged from the piercer stem 58.

The extrusion then can be carried out in a conventional manner as iswell known in the art. Th force of the piercing cylinders 49A can betransmitted to the piercing stem &8 alone or can be used in conjunctionwith the main cylinders 29, 2| by bringing disc 55 into engagement withguide member 9| (Fig. l) which serves to guide sliding member 65% in itsouter position.

Upon completion of the extrusion process, piercing cylinders 49A can beconnected to the exhaust which will release pressure therein. This willallow retracting cylinders 53 to cause a rearward movement of thesliding member 69 to withdraw the mandrel therewith from the extrudedtube or billet, and will at the same time position the entire movablepiercing system to the right (Figs. 1 and 2) to the end of the stroke ofthe rains of cylinders 53. Thus, the parts will again take the positionshown in Figure 1. Following this, clutch 5! is disengaged so that thepiercer stem 48 with the mandrel holder and mandrel can be moved to theright (Figs. 1 and 2) by the shifting cylinders 62. In the lattermovement of the parts, the front end of the piercer stem will bewithdrawn from the sliding member 60, the forward end of the piercingstem being supported on guide bracket 5? by means of the surface 58 ofdisc 55. As the piercer stem approaches its rearmost position, themandrel supports operated by member I3 will be actuated to bring themandrel supports as into a position to hold the mandrel means. At theend of the shifting stroke the mandrel holder 46 will hit the ejectingrod 33 so as to strip the mandrel holder from the piercer stem 48.

The mandrel then can be removed as previously described and a cool ornew mandrel means automatically placed into position and the operationrepeated. While the changing operation takes place, the extruded tubecan be cut oil from the discard, the die and billet containerlubricated, and other necessary operations performed so that no timewill be lost.

During the changing of the mandrels, inspection can be made of thecondition thereof and in the event it is necessary to replace adefective mandrel, such can be done without affecting production of thepress, it merely being necessary to have spare assembled mandrel meansavailable.

The rotatable mandrel holding and cooling device can take various forms.Another example is seen in Figures 11 and 12 wherein discs I38, I08 canbe rotatably supported on shaft I BI, said discs I08 having rods I32extending therebetween, with hooks I03 supported thereon at spacedpoints. The hooks I83 may function in a manner so as to serve the samepurpose as the slots 82 of Figure 8 to receive and. hold the mandrels. Acooling means is shown at I04 similar to cooling means 85 of Figure 9.It is evident of course that variou other transfer mechanisms may beused such as will be described in conjunction with Figures 16 and 17.

Figures 13 and 14 show an arrangement wherein a single central extrusionstem operating cylinder is employed, the central operating cylinderbeing seen at I05. Piercer stem I85 traverses a bore I91 through ram Hi8of the operating cylinder I 85. The ram I I38 is connected to themovable cross head and tool holder I99 through the open sided connectingmember I2I, said connecting member having openings II I on each sidethereof. Extrusion stem I I8 is located in the end of tool holder I89.The purpose of openings III is to allow removal of the mandrel means. Asliding member H4 like sliding member 6!] previously described isprovided and the mandrel and mandrel holder are held therein in a mannersimilar to that of Figures 1 and 2.

A movable piercer cross head I I5 carries shifting cylinder I I6, saidshifting cylinder being connected through rods I ll and cross head I I8to the piercing stem for the purpose of completing withdrawing of thepiercer stem following operation of the piercer pull back cylindersI2IA. A clutch H9 is provided for connecting the piercer stem to thepiercer cylinders I20 through the movable piercer cross head I I5.

The mandrel and mandrel holder may be removed with any suitableapparatus in a manner similar to that described in the previousmodifications, access being gained thereto through openings III.

A further modification of th device is seen in F gures 15 and 16 whereinthe main extrusion stem operating cylinders I30 are horizontally locatedon either side of the piercer stem I3 I. Cylinders I38 are connected ina suitable manner to operate the movable cross head and tool apparatusindicated generally at I32. The mandrel mean comprising mandrel I33 andmandrel holder I34 are insertabl in the end of the piercer stem I3I.When the piercer stem I3I is withdrawn by means of the shiftingcylinders I35, the mandrel and mandrel holder will be located over themandrel supporting arms I36 of the transfer mechanism. Said arms I36 areshown in an inoperative position in Figure 5, but may be moved to anoperative position at an appropriate time by operating member I31. Thoperating member I3? is connected in any suitable manner to the mandrelsupports I36.

A movable piercer cross head I38, stationary cylinder cross head I 39,piercer cylinders I40, and clutch arrangement I4I are provided foroperating the device in a manner similar to the previously describedmodifications.

When the mandrel holder I34 is supported on mandrel supports I36, thetransfer arm MBA (Fig. 16), which i pivoted at I4IA, is arranged to beoperated by hydraulic cylinder I42 through a flexible chain or otherconnector arrangement I43. Upon operation of the hydraulic cylinder I42,the transfer arm I40A will be rotated to the dashed line position I44(Fig. 16) carrying the mandrel means upwardly where it may be picked upby a pair of books I45. Hooks I45 are mounted on rods I46 carriedbetween rotatable discs I41, rotatable discs I4? being intermittentlyrotatable by shaft I48. In the form just described, the mandrel rotatingand cooling apparatus is located over the machine and access can begained thereto by means of the platform I49.

It is apparent that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and that various combinations of the features thereof canbe used without departing from the spirit of the invention except asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an extrusion press having an extrusion stem and an operating zonewith a die and billet container, the combination including a mandrelmeans, a reciprocable operating stem movable toward and away from saidoperating zone for moving said mandrel means, said mandrel means beingmovable relative to said extrusion stem and retractable to the rearthereof away from said operating zone, connecting means between saidmandrel means and said operating stem, said connecting means includingmember tightly fitting but axially engageably and disengageably movablerelative to each other, said mandrel means and operating stem beingconnected and disconnected through said connecting means by axialmovement of said mandrel means and operating stem relative to eachother, and a stripper within said operating stem fixed in the path ofsaid mandrel means for contacting the same as the mandrel means andoperating stem are moved away from said operating zone to cause axialdisconnecting movement of said mandrel means and operating stem.

2. In an extrusion press having an extrusion stem and an operating zonewith a die and billet container, the combination including a mandrelmeans, a reciprocable operating stem movable toward and away from saidoperating zone for moving said mandrel means, reciprocating meansconnected to said operating stem, said mandrel means being movablerelative to said extrusion.

stem and retractable to the rear thereof away from said operating zone,connecting means between said mandrel means and said operating stem,said connecting means including members tightly fitting but axiallyengageably and disengageably movable relative to each other, saidmandrel means and operating stem being connected and disconnectedthrough said connecting means by axial movement of said mandrel meansand operating stem relative to each other, a stripper within saidoperating stem fixed in the path of said mandrel means for contactingthe same as the mandrel means and operating stem are moved away fromsaid operating zone to cause axial disconnecting movement of saidmandrel means and operating stem, and yieldable fluid means continuouslyenergized in a direction to urge said stem and mandrel means away fromsaid operating zone, said reciprocating means overcoming said yieldablefluid means as the operating stem is reciprocated toward the operatingzone, the yieldable means effectuating initial withdrawal of saidoperating stem and mandrel means upon completion of operation of saidreciprocating means.

3. In an extrusion press having an extrusion stem and an operating zonewith a die and billet container, the combination including a mandrelmeans, a reciprocable operating stem movable toward and away from saidoperating zone for moving said mandrel means, reciprocating meansconnected to said operating stem, said mandrel means being movablrelative to said extrusion stem and retractable to the rear thereof awaytween said mandrel means and said operating 12 stem, said, connectingmeans including members tightly fitting but axially engageably and.disengageably movable relative to. each other, said mandrel means andoperating, stem being connected and disconnected through saidconnecting,means by axial movement of said mandrel means and operating stemrelative to each other. a stripper within said operating stem fixed inthe path of said mandrel means for contacting the same as the mandrelmeans and operating stem are moved away from said operating zone tocause axial disconnecting movement of said mandrel means and operatingstem, and slidable means connected to yieldable fluid means continuouslyenergized in a direction to urge said operating stem and mandrel meansaway from said operating zone, said reciprocating means overcoming saidyieldable fluid means as the operating stem is reciprocated toward theoperating zone, the yieldable means efiectuating initial withdrawal ofsaid operating stem and man drel means upon release of operating forceon said reciprocating means.

HUGO LORANT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,859,753 Summey May 12, 1932 1,924,522 Sparks Aug. 29, 19332,298,077 Witter Oct. 6, 1942- FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date459,266 Germany Apr. 30, 1928

